216 BibUogrophical Notices. 



the views and opinions and knowledge of a very great number of 

 authors on the historj^ of the Acalephes ; and these are given very fully 

 either in the author's own words, or in accurate and entire transla- 

 tions of them ; so far, at least, as translations were accessible to the 

 compiler, who acknowledges that his ignorance of the German language 

 prevented him from making the use of works written in that language 

 which he would otherwise have done. Besides being a repertory of 

 everything pertaining to the anatomy, physiology, habits and classifi- 

 cation of these frail, fugitive and most singular animals, we have in 

 it a notice of every species that had been described up to the period of 

 publication, and this notice is as complete as existing materials allow 

 it to be made. Upon the whole we can recommend the work as a cheap 

 and convenient collection of many widely scattered facts and opi- 

 nions, and as a complete epitome of our knowledge of the species. 



Preparing for Publication. 



The Illustrated Genera of Birds, by Messrs. Geo. Gray and D. W. 

 Mitchell, is in active preparation. Part I. will appear with the 

 Magazines on the first of May. 



It is proposed in this work to give complete characters of all the 

 genera in Mr. Gray's list of 1842, with a catalogue of the species 

 referable to each of them. As this will include a note of the original 

 descriptions and figures, it will serve in some measure as a general 

 index to ornithological literature. The size and number of the illus- 

 trations will prevent the necessity of an inconveniently reduced scale ; 

 and the juxtaposition of nearly allied generic forms on the same 

 plate will aflford sufficient proof, in the absence of actual comparison 

 of specimens, of the real or imaginary value of the distinctions which 

 previous authors have established, or sought to establish, between 

 them. 



Johnsoni Itinera Botanica, Cantiana Hamstedianaque, 



MDCXXIX & MDCXXXII. 



This work, the original of which is excessively rare, will be so 

 printed as that the English translation (with which it is intended to 

 be accompanied) shall occupy the page opposite to the Latin text. 



Much interest attaches to this curious production, which furnishes 

 a detailed record or journal of, probably, the earliest botanical ex- 

 cursion undertaken by the Apothecaries' Company. 



Among the places visited are the following: — Erith, Dartford, 

 Gravesend, Rochester, Sheppey, Faversham, Canterbury, Margate, 

 Sandwich and Deal ; Kentish Town, Highgate and Hampstead. The 

 portions referring to Hampstead include Caenwood, Hampstead 

 Heath, and the adjoining fields. 



There will be appended Mr. Irvine's list of Hampstead-Heath 

 Plants, for the purpose of giving a comparative view of the present 

 with the former state of the botany of this latter district. 



Facsimiles of the exceedingly curious Illustrations will be given, 

 and the text will be translated faithfully verbatim, by Mr. Irvine, 

 author of the ' London Flora.' 



